Portulaca plant named ‘DPAZ15’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Portulaca  cultivar named ‘DPAZ15’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant flowering and an intense orange/red flower color. The new variety has a compact, semi trailing growth habit and forms a low, spreading plant. The new variety is a  Portulaca , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Portulaca oleracea.

Variety denomination: ‘DPAZ15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Portulaca cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Portulaca varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during September 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Portulaca oleracea ‘PT-8-441’ The pollen parent is unknown, as the crossing resulting in ‘DPAZ15’ was an open pollination, with unidentifiable pollen parents. The new variety was discovered in June 2009 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ15’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in July 2009 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DPAZ15’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DPAZ15’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DPAZ15’ as a new and distinct Portulaca cultivar:

-   -   1. Highly floriferous     -   2. Compact and dense semi trailing habit     -   3. Low spreading growth habit     -   4. Intense red/orange flower color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ15’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Portulaca oleracea ‘PT-8-441’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ15’ have a more compact plant habit, and more flowers per plant. Additionally, the new cultivar begins flowering earlier and produces more lateral branches than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ15’ are comparable to the commercial variety Portulaca ‘BALRIORG’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,421. These Portulaca varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, including flower color and form. The new variety ‘DPAZ15’ differs in having more flowers, per plant, larger foliage and a more mounded, dense plant form than ‘BALRIORG’. Additionally, the new variety has a more intense and homogenous flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DPAZ15’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm basket. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 85 days from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DPAZ15’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DPAZ15’ plants grown in a greenhouse during Spring in Gilroy, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 14° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 10° C. to 23° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Portulaca oleracea ‘DPAZ15’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 10 to 14 days at approximately 18-21° C. -   Root description: Fibrous, spreading and dense.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounded, semi-trailing. -   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 80 days. -   Height: 15 to 20 cm. -   Plant spread: About 30 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium vigor. -   Branching characteristics: Tight, compact, dense branching. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 30 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.3-0.5 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 9. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Horizontal. Rounded with ridges along the branch.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—From the base RHS Greyed-Orange 166A, at the tip RHS             Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Strength.—Very strong. -   Internode length: Approximately 3 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 14 per branch.         -   Average length.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Average width.—1.3 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Most mature leaves are obovate, young leaves             elliptic.         -   Apex.—Some are rounded and some acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, smooth.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Attachment.—At right angle or obtuse angle to stem.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 B. Young             foliage under side: RHS Green 137 B. Mature foliage upper             side: RHS Green 137 C. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green             137 C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Green 137 C. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147             C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS             Green 143B. Texture: Glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: From Spring to Autumn. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 8 weeks. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Terminal, single, sessile.     Flower habit horizontal. -   Rate of flower opening: 7 to 10 days from bud to fully opened     flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 day. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate with a pointed tip.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144B with venation and top of RHS             144A. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm. -   Corolla/petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single flower with five distinct overlapping             petals.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Quantity.—5 petals.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Apex.—Emarginate.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Orange-Red 33A             with center near Yellow 13A. Lower surface: Near RHS Orange             26B. Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS Orange-Red 32A. Lower             surface: RHS Orange 24B. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—2.         -   Shape.—Deltoid.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper and Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C             with venation and top of RHS Red-Purple 60B. -   Peduncle: None. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 70.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.5 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Oval, bi-lobed.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 21A.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 23A. Quantity:             Moderate. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1 per flower.         -   Length.—0.75 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.5 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 2B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Six-branched stigma. Color: Near RHS Orange             26A with darker color in the center — near RHS Orange-Red             32A. Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Fruits are egg-shaped 4-5 mm long with a conical     shape top. Seeds are glossy black with a circular shape. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or insects has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Will not tolerate temperatures below 7° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant named ‘DPAZ15’ as herein illustrated and described. 